The latest news and information from Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Main menu

Post navigation

More lead time for presentence reports

The Michigan Supreme Court has amended MCR 6.425 and 6.610 to require courts to give defense attorneys and prosecutors presentence reports at least two business days ahead of sentencing.

A court’s failure to timely provide the report entitles either party to an adjournment to prepare any necessary corrections, additions or deletions.

The amendments also provide a measure of confidentiality for victims and witnesses.

The presentence reports shall not include the following information about any victim or witness: home address, home telephone number, work address, or work telephone number, unless an address is used to identify the place of the crime.

A staff comment to the amendments states that a court must

instruct those who review the report that they are precluded from making a copy of the report and must return their copy to the court before or at the defendant’s sentencing.